Mapplr’s favorite restaurants and cafes in Rome

Rome is one of the best places in the world for food. Whenever I am in Rome, I go to the local markets (the Campo Fiori is my favorite) and buy artichokes, tomatoes, beans, rucola, cherries (we’re talking about summer). And there’s nothing like spaghetti alla carbonara or all’amatriciana at a local trattoria.

For this post, I asked my Roman friend, Gianandrea Facchini, founder of Buzzdetector and a restaurateur himself, to share his top restaurants and cafes. Since his list is more up to date than mine, I thought I’d publish it.

RESTAURANTS

(1) Ristoro degli Angeli: a cozy place in one of the most beautiful areas of Rome, Garbatella. The neighborhood was built between the 1920s and the 1930s by renowned architects. The restaurant owners organize a tour of the neighborhood every Sunday morning. The dishes are based on high quality ingredients (organic food).

(3) Duke’s: an unusual restaurant for Rome. Californian cuisine in the heart of Parioli neighborhood. Great place with excellent food and wine list from Napa and Sonoma. It’s the place for Romans to eat something different.

(5) Ar Galletto: the traditional place to eat in Piazza Farnese. The restaurant has been owned and managed by Giovanni and family for forty years. Eating outside in front of Michelangelo’s Palazzo Farnese is more than an experience. Roman cuisine.

Ar GallettoPiazza Farnese, 102
Rome, Italy
+39 06 686 1714

(6) Cul de Sac: a corridor between walls lined with bottles of wines. Wide selection of cheese and pig meat (affettati like ham, etc) to go with various wines. Located just behind Piazza Navona at the beginning of Via del Governo Vecchio, where shopping is a cool experience.

Cul de Sac
Piazza Pasquino (just off Piazza Navona)
Rome, Italy

(7) Bacaro: so romantic in a secluded street. Small and cozy. The risottos and home-made pastas are very delicious. Read my review of Il Bacaro.

(8) Al Bric: to get into the restaurant, you pass through the cellar, marveling at the walls which are decorated with wooden boxes of the major wine producers across the world. The French and Italian cheeses are a must.

Al Bric
Via del Pellegrino 51 – 52
Rome, Italy
+39 06 687 9533

(9) Ristorante Dal Bolognese: a long-time favorite in the Piazza del Popolo. The restaurant attracts a chic, classically Roman clientele who are very well dressed and fascinating to watch. The food is impeccable! The menu is based on the traditional kitchen of Northern Italy. Read my review of Dal Bolognese.

(11) Al Pompiere: close to the Sinagoga and the Tiber, tucked away in a side street, this restaurant, located in an old palazzo, specializes in traditional Roman dishes such as carciofi alla giudia, bucatini alla’matriciana, spaghetti carbonara and more. Read my review of Al Pompiere .

(12) Il Buco: close to the Pantheon and the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, this quiet, cozy restaurant tucked away in a sidestreet serves delicious Tuscan food such as tagliolini with black truffles. If you find yourself near the Pantheon around lunch or dinner, go to Il Buco. The wines are inexpensive and the service is excellent. Dishes are very reasonably priced. Read my review of Il Buco.

(13) Ristorante Nino: perfect place to have lunch (or dinner) near the Spanish Steps. Attracts enough loyal local clientele to make it a great people-watching place. Very delicious beans, pasta, meat dishes. Must try the finocchiona toscana (antipasti). Read my review of Ristorante Nino.

Ristorante Nino
Via Borgognona, 11
00187 Rome
Italy
+39 06 6795 676

CAFES

Caffè della Pace is behind Piazza Navona and close to Chiostro del Bramante.

Comments

hi, i agree with gianandrea on a lot of these places but ive got to raise a protest with your mention of campo dei fiori. its no longer a proper roman market. it is no longer a place for seasonal produce and as i walked through it today i could have sworn that there were more stalls selling junk (mussolini aprons, veggie peelers, etc) than actual food. for an authentic roman market you have to go to testaccio, or virtually anywhere other than campo dei fiori. I highly recommend visiting testaccio in the morning, taking a walk through the market, checking out a few delis go to the fabulous but decidedly un-Roman volpetti then walking (you can stop at centrale montemartini along the way) or taking the metro to garbatella for a stroll and lunch at ristoro degli angeli. enjoy! ciao!